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The bad news is that you'll have to wait quite a while for it - and while it's nice to have the bank holidays off, your employer doesn’t have to give you paid leave on bank or public holidays. They can choose to include bank holidays as part of a worker’s statutory annual leave.

Almost all workers are legally entitled to 5.6 weeks’ paid holiday per year (known as statutory leave entitlement or annual leave). The website gov.uk explains that an employer can include bank holidays as part of statutory annual leave.

Why do we have Bank Holidays?

In 1871 the Bank Holidays act was introduced, which ensured four days of the year were seen as public holidays.

These were Easter Monday, Whit Monday, the first Monday in August and Boxing Day.

In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, the summer bank holiday is on the last Monday of August. In Scotland it is on the first Monday of August. This day marks the end of the summer holidays for many people who return to work or school in the autumn.

It was originally intended to give bank employees the opportunity to participate and attend cricket matches. Exactly one hundred years later, the Banking and Financial Dealings Act 1971 moved this bank holiday to the last Monday in August for England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

This followed a trial period from 1965 to 1970 of the new date. In Scotland, it remained on the first Monday in August.

Here are the remaining Bank Holiday dates in 2018

Bank Holidays bring flocks of tourists to Kent

August Bank Holiday - August 27, 2018

Christmas Day - December 25,2018

Boxing Day - December 26, 2018

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We will tell you everything you need to know about family activities, one-off events, and things to do around the county over the holidays.

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